Sealed package of flexible material and method of making the same

ABSTRACT

In order to enclose a coil of flexible material in an air-tight manner, a spool with end discs and a spindle portion is enclosed within a sleeve of flexible air-tight plastic. The part of the sleeve between the end pieces is drawn in and held against the spindle portion of the spool, leaving substantial extensions beyond the end pieces at each end. The flexible material is then wound on the spool, and the extensions of the sleeve are folded inwardly to overlap each other and secured to each other in an air-tight manner.

United States Patent 1191 Newman May 7,1974

[ 1' SEALED PACKAGE 0F FLEXIBLE MATERIAL AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME [75] Inventor: James W. Newman, Scarsdale, NY.

[73] Assignee: windings, lnc., Yonkers, NY.

{22] Filed: Nov. 13, I972 21 Appl..No.: 305,683

521 U.S.Cl. ..206/39s,53/32;22'9/D1G.12, 224 21 5 51 rm. c1. 865d 85/04 [58] Field-of Search... 206/52 R, 52 W, 59 R, 59 A, 206/59 B, 59 L, 46 Y, 64, 65 S, 65 Y;

22 9/DlG. 12; 242/159, 7.01, 7.02 53/32, 33

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS, 3,381,812 5/1968 Cohen 206/59E 2,138,216 11/1938 Sunderland 206/46 Y FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 12/1953 Switzerland 206/46Y 546,091 9/1957 Canada 206/9 B Pn'mary Examiner--William l. Price Assistant Examiner-Steven E. Lipman 57 ABSTRACT In order to enclose a coil of flexible material in an airtight manner, a spool with end discs and a spindle portion is enclosed within a sleeve of flexible air-tight plastic. The part of the sleeve between the end pieces is drawn in and held against the spindle portion of the I spool, leaving substantial extensions beyond the end pieces at each end. The flexible material is then wound on the spool, and the extensions of the sleeve are folded inwardly to overlap each other and secured to each other in an air-tight manner.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 11/1952 Austria 206/46 v SEALED PACKAGE OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention The invention relates to hermetically sealed packages of flexible material and to a method of producing such SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I According to the present invention, flexible material wound on a spool is hermetically sealed without the necessity of enclosing the end members of the spool. This is accomplished by sliding over the spool, before the flexible material is wound on it, a plastic sleeve, after which the central portion of the sleeve is drawn inwardly and secured around the spindle part of the spool, while leaving substantialportions extending beyond the end walls. The flexible material is then wound on the spool between the end walls, and the extending ends of the plastic tube are folded back over each other and the flexible material and secured to each other hermetically, thus completely enclosing the flexible material without having any of the covering material overlying the outsides of the end walls.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows in elevation the first step of-preparing a package according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows the. second step; and

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the third step with the spool in cross-section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, there is a spool comprising a spindle or mandrel part 2 on which flexible material is to be wound with end walls or flanges 4. A tube 6 of 2 flexible plastic material, possibly shrinkwrap plastic, of substantially the same interior diameter as the end pieces 4 is slipped over the spool. The length of the tube is substantially greater than the length of the spool. The material may be pushed on in such a way that the portion 8 between the end walls is crinkled, meaning that its length is considerably more than the length of the space between the end walls. It is then compressed inwardly, for example by rubber bands 10, until it rests against the spindle portion 2 (see FIG. 2). Shrinkwrap material could also be used, which would be heated in the central portion only to contract it around the spindle.

Thereafter, the flexible material 12 is wound on the spindle, as shown inFIG. 3, and the projecting ends of the tube 6 are brought back over to overlap each other (FIG. 4) and secured by a heat seal 14, a strap 16 or both if desired.

It will be noted that in the resulting packages the material is completely sealed from access of the air, but that holes 18 if such are provided in the end walls are accessible for handling of the package without any damage of breaking the sealing material.

I claim:

1. A package of flexible material comprising a spool, an enclosing sleeve of air and moisture resistant material encircling the spool between the spindle portion and the end members of the spool, the central portion of said enclosing sleeve being drawn inwardly and secured to said spindle portion, a flexible material wound onthe spool over said central portion, and the end portions of said enclosing sleeve being folded back over each other and the flexible material and secured to each other completely enclosing the wound flexible material, without covering the outsides of said end members of the spool.

2. A method of making a package as claimed in claim 1, which comprises applying to a spool having end walls and a spindle portion a tube of flexible air and moisture resistant material of a length considerably greater than the length of the spool, compressing the portion of such tube between the end walls until it rests substantially in engagement with the spindle portion and lies adjacent the interior face of the end walls, winding flexible material on the spindle portion between the end walls, bringing inwardly the portions of the sleeve extending beyond the end walls to overlap, and hermetically securing said inwardly turned portions to each other.

i l l 

1. A package of flexible material comprising a spool, an enclosing sleeve of air and moisture resistant material encircling the spool between the spindle portion and the end members of the spool, the central portion of said enclosing sleeve being drawn inwardly and secured to said spindle portion, a flexible material wound on the spool over said central portion, and the end portions of said enclosing sleeve being folded back over each other and the flexible material and secured to each other completely enclosing the wound flexible material, without covering the outsides of said end members of the spool.
 2. A method of making a package as claimed in claim 1, which comprises applying to a spool having end walls and a spindle portion a tube of flexible air and moisture resistant material of a length considerably greater than the length of the spool, compressing the portion of such tube between the end walls until it rests substantially in engagement with the spindle portion and lies adjacent the interior face of the end walls, winding flexible material on the spindle portion between the end walls, bringing inwardly the portions of the sleeve extending beyond the end walls to overlap, and hermetically securing said inwardly turned portions to each other. 